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Flashback to the year 2019. Most of us didn’t know what a pandemic was, Old Town Road was the top song on the charts, and the Ash Grove boys basketball team was struggling through a five-win season. But there was hope on the horizon.
“He was just a scrawny, long shaggy-haired kid that I knew could play,” said Ash Grove head basketball coach Grant Williamson. “He was quiet. He still is pretty quiet.”
That kid was Sam Moreland. He has seen it all with the Pirates.
“It’s been really fun,” said Moreland. “Whenever I came in as a freshman, we weren’t really good. But it’s been fun to grow as a team and get better each year.”
But it didn’t happen right away. The 2020 sophomore campaign was about as frustrating as 2020 was as a whole. A one-win season. But in the first year of Williamson’s tenure, a new foundation was being laid with Sam leading the charge.
“He’s a leader for us, and he does everything on the court for us, ” said sophomore Brady Nicholson. “He’s awesome, I love him.”
Williamson added, “He’s not super vocal. But he is when he needs to be. And when we need a pick-me-up or we need to communicate on the court or in the locker room, he’s ready to step up and say what needs to be said.”
After a ten-win season last year where Moreland averaged just under 20 points per game, Ash Grove is closing in on 20 wins this year. His teammates, like Nicholson say they’re following him no matter what.
“He’s big time for us,” said Nicholson. “Points, rebounds, everything. The best player is always guarding him. He still gets it done.”
His coach says he’s inspiring future Pirates to get it done too.
“I think he’s left a legacy here,” said Williamson. “One that kind of lays the foundation for success. And now the young guys, the freshmen and sophomores, they’re looking up to this group.”
Sam doesn’t want to see the Ash Grove basketball team return to those dark days after he graduates.
He has a message for the future leaders of the team.
“No matter what you’re doing, they’re going to do what you do because you’re the leader,” he said. “So make the right decisions.”
